WASHINGTON, DC –As the United States Senate debates the global warming bill, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced an amendment to the bill to urge the Senate to acknowledge that reduced crop harvests and resulting food shortages are another potential impact of global warming. The shortage of crops and increased costs of staples like wheat and rice are causing food riots and civil unrest in some countries around the world.
“The longer we wait to address the problem of global warming, the more severe floods and drought conditions become that can threaten crop harvests around the world,” said Senator Casey. “This global food crisis has left millions hungry. We must act now to stop the effects of global warming; not only is this a humanitarian crisis, it is a threat to our national security.”
Senator Casey has been an early and strong supporter of the effort to address the critical problem of global warming. He has also focused on the national security implications of global warming as well as the new opportunities and jobs that can be created by new “green” technologies.
Global warming is predicted to increase malnutrition as well as the number of people affected by heatwaves, floods, storms, fires and droughts. The resolution urges the United States to address the serious issue of global warming in a timely manner because of the harmful impacts global warming can have on global crop harvests and resulting food security crises. In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report acknowledging the impact that global warming could have on crop disasters.
Senator Casey has been a leader on the global food crisis and helped lead the effort to secure additional funding in the Supplemental Appropriations bill now working its way through Congress. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey urged the Committee to increase investments in domestic nutrition programs and has introduced bipartisan legislation to provide funds to help food banks acquire additional food. He was among the first Members of Congress to address the current global food crisis by drafting in early March a letter to Senate appropriators, signed by six other Members, advocating an expansion of emergency funds in the Supplemental Appropriations bill.
Senator Casey was recently asked by the Center for Strategic and International Studies to co-chair a high level task force assessing the global food crisis.
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“The longer we wait to address the problem of global warming, the more severe floods and drought conditions become that can threaten crop harvests around the world,” said Senator Casey. “This global food crisis has left millions hungry. We must act now to stop the effects of global warming; not only is this a humanitarian crisis, it is a threat to our national security.”
Senator Casey has been an early and strong supporter of the effort to address the critical problem of global warming. He has also focused on the national security implications of global warming as well as the new opportunities and jobs that can be created by new “green” technologies.
Global warming is predicted to increase malnutrition as well as the number of people affected by heatwaves, floods, storms, fires and droughts. The resolution urges the United States to address the serious issue of global warming in a timely manner because of the harmful impacts global warming can have on global crop harvests and resulting food security crises. In May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report acknowledging the impact that global warming could have on crop disasters.
Senator Casey has been a leader on the global food crisis and helped lead the effort to secure additional funding in the Supplemental Appropriations bill now working its way through Congress. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey urged the Committee to increase investments in domestic nutrition programs and has introduced bipartisan legislation to provide funds to help food banks acquire additional food. He was among the first Members of Congress to address the current global food crisis by drafting in early March a letter to Senate appropriators, signed by six other Members, advocating an expansion of emergency funds in the Supplemental Appropriations bill.
Senator Casey was recently asked by the Center for Strategic and International Studies to co-chair a high level task force assessing the global food crisis.
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